Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

Chapter six has the king unable to sleep. He has the chronicles of his reign brought to him and read aloud. When he gets to the part where Mordecai helped foil a plot against his life (Esther 2:19-23), the king asked if any reward had been given. It hadn’t. Haman shows up looking to ask for permission to hang Mordecai and the king asks him what the king could do to honour someone. Haman selfishly assumes it must be himself and lists a lot of things (which reveal his inner desire to be the same as the king). The king agrees and makes Haman do it for Mordecai. Haman is humiliated. At the end of the reward, eunuchs arrive to take him to the second banquet with the king.

Chapter seven is the reveal of the plot. The king, again VERY happy with Esther, offers her up to half his kingdom. She only pleads for the saving of her people. She reveals she is a Jew AND that both she and her people are under threat of the king’s decree. Haman is revealed as the man behind it. Haman is taken to his house and hung on the scaffolding he erected for Mordecai.

Chapter eight has Mordecai raised to Haman’s now empty position. While the former decree cannot be rescinded, the Jews were given permission to defend themselves, attack their enemies, and plunder their possessions as recompense. The Jews celebrated at their reprieve.

Chapter nine shows the Jews striking down their enemies before their enemies can destroy them. Throughout the Persian Empire they defended themselves and gained rest from their enemies. NONE of them took ANY plunder. Mordecai is happy and decrees an annual celebration to commemorate their being saved (the Feast of Purim).

Chapter ten is an epilogue showing that Mordecai became the second in command in the kingdom, right after the king.

Summary

Key Players: God, Ahasuerus, Esther, Mordecai, Haman, Zeresh.

Key Verse(s): Esther 6:6-12; 7:6-1; 8:1-6; 9:11-17; 10:3